The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, has reiterated plans to introduce chicken biriyani for students in government schools, with School Education Minister Raj Mohan saying the proposal is a wish of the Chief Minister. The plan will be taken up after a pilot and testing phase to ensure the meal is prepared and served under hygienic conditions.
Speaking about the proposal, Raj Mohan said the government wants all school students to have the option of chicken biriyani, but stressed that it cannot be introduced immediately as arrangements must first be made to ensure hygiene and food safety.
“With all due respect, even prisoners in Puzhal prison have chicken biriyani. Can’t our students also have it?” the minister said.
He added that the government would first conduct a pilot project and assess the arrangements before expanding the initiative.
“It cannot be implemented immediately as it has to be done in hygienic conditions. There has to be a pilot and test project. In the coming days, we will make sure school students will have chicken biriyani in schools,” Raj Mohan said.
PROPOSAL UNDER CONSIDERATION SINCE JULY
The proposal was first reported in July, when the Tamil Nadu government was considering serving chicken biriyani once a week to students in government schools under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Raj Mohan had said he personally proposed the idea to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who would take the final decision on the plan. The proposal came amid a broader discussion over introducing non-vegetarian food into school meal programmes.
The minister had argued that growing children requires adequate protein and said providing chicken biriyani should not be viewed as a political issue.
“In Tamil Nadu, the educational revolution has always gone hand in hand with a nutritional revolution,” he had said while explaining the rationale behind the proposal.
Raj Mohan had also clarified that students who prefer vegetarian food would continue to receive vegetarian meals, while those who eat non-vegetarian food could opt for chicken biriyani if the proposal is implemented.
HYGIENE AND PILOT PROJECT
The minister's latest remarks indicate that the proposal remains under consideration, with the government focusing on how the meal can be prepared and served safely on a large scale
A pilot and testing phase is expected to help authorities assess food preparation, hygiene standards and logistics before any wider rollout across government schools.
Tamil Nadu's school nutrition programme has undergone several changes over the years, with successive governments expanding the range of meals provided to students. The state also operates a breakfast programme for government school students, alongside the midday meal initiative.
The government is also considering improvements to the school breakfast menu as part of its broader focus on nutrition and school attendance.
